Studies Confirm Physical Therapy Reduces Back Pain

Joint at base of the spine is frequently responsible for pain

Low back pain (LBP) continues to be one of the biggest health problems in the world, as 70-85% of the population will experience it at some point in their lives. About 90% of all patients with LBP will have a good prognosis, regardless of the treatment they receive, but the other 10% will go on to experience chronic, or long-term pain and disability. This often leads to individuals missing work due to their condition, and for many of them, the cause of the pain can be attributed to one or both sacroiliac joints. The sacroiliac joint connects the sacrum bone at the base of the spine with the ilium, the uppermost part of the hip bone. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD) is a condition in which this joint does not move properly, and it is a common cause of back pain that occurs in up to 30% of LBP patients. There are several treatments available for SIJD, such as physical therapy, which can include a variety of interventions. Although physical therapy is often used to treat SIJD, research is lacking and it’s not completely clear just how effective it is for the condition. For this reason, a powerful study called a systematic review was conducted to evaluate the possible benefits of physical therapy for SIJD.

Six medical databases searched for appropriate studies

To conduct the review, researchers performed a search of six major medical databases for relevant studies. In particular, they were looking for studies that assessed the effectiveness of various physical therapy interventions for patients with SIJD for more than three months who did not have spinal surgery. This search led to 1,114 studies being identified, but only nine of these fit the necessary criteria. Four studies used manipulation as the main physical therapy intervention, three of them used exercise and another three used kinesiology tape. Manipulation is a form of hands-on intervention in which the therapist manipulates joints and other structures to relieve pain, while kinesiology tape is applied to the painful area in order to bring about similar changes.

Grade 5 Mobilizations found to be the most effective of all treatments

Results showed that all three physical therapy interventions of grade 5 mobilizations, exercise and tape were beneficial for reducing pain and disability, and for restoring normal symmetry of the pelvis in patients with SIJD. When the interventions were compared to one another, it was found that manipulation was the most effective of all three at reducing pain and improving functional abilities. These findings strongly suggest that physical therapy is indeed supported as an effective treatment for SIJD patients. Researchers behind this review therefore recommend that anyone affected by LBP that may be due to SIJD should consider seeing a physical therapist for a comprehensive treatment program that includes manipulation to address their pain and disability.

Take Home Message for Those in Looking for a Corpus Christi Back Pain Specialist

Pain is a complex experience. There are many causes and often, it’s difficult to know the source of the pain. For this reason, you want someone who not only treats lower back pain on a regular basis but someone who will take the time to listen to you and provide you with the right treatment. Yes, conservative treatment works and physical therapist directed care is a great choice according to the medical literature.

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